• QinShiHuangsShlong@lemmy.ml
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    7 hours ago

    Take, for example, the claim that North Koreans are permitted to leave the country.

    They absolutely are. I met more than one during my many years in university.

    betraying the State and escaping

    You very clearly misread this. It’s a crime to commit treason and then escape. AND. “escaping” to another country is not a crime.

      • QinShiHuangsShlong@lemmy.ml
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        6 hours ago

        I know you didn’t ask but 3 and 4 seem normal to me defecting during wartime and espionage are punished everywhere on Earth for a reason it makes them no better or worse than any other country.

        As for surrender I have a feeling it’s a purposely unflattering translation whose real meaning is likely more inline with international norms such as

        Article 99 of the UCMJ

        Section 2 of the Armed Forces Act 2006

        Section 74 of the National Defence Act

        Section 15 of the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982

        Section 34 of the Army Act 1950

        and so on.

        • Dragon@lemmy.ml
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          5 hours ago

          Are you suggesting that these laws only apply during active service in the military?

              • QinShiHuangsShlong@lemmy.ml
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                4 hours ago

                Surrender specifically is a combatant concept (defecting and espionage are not), non-combatants don’t surrender under military law, they migrate or seek asylum. E.g. to surrender you must be a combatant in this case an active service member.

                • Dragon@lemmy.ml
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                  3 hours ago

                  Sure, but in a country with universal conscription I’m not sure that’s exclusive to the military context.

                  • QinShiHuangsShlong@lemmy.ml
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                    3 hours ago

                    Universal conscription doesn’t mean what you seem to think it means. It’s simply a mandatory service term, not permanent combatant status. Much like in the ROK, Thailand, etc., eligible citizens serve a set period then return to civilian life, they aren’t subject to surrender laws before or after their term.